Finding the tools

Karuk storyteller Phil Albers Jr. told the men gathered for the Siskiyou Fatherhood Conference on Saturday, April 20 that telling their children stories is as much about the act of engaging the child as it is about the story.

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By John Bowman

Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

By John Bowman

Posted Apr. 22, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Updated Apr 22, 2013 at 11:44 AM

By John Bowman

Posted Apr 22, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Updated Apr 22, 2013 at 11:44 AM

YREKA

Karuk storyteller Phil Albers Jr. told the men gathered for the Siskiyou Fatherhood Conference on Saturday, April 20 that telling their children stories is as much about the act of engaging the child as it is about the story.

The theme of fathers engaging their children and playing a continuously active role in their lives was emphasized in many forms throughout the day at this year's conference where more than 40 men heard presentations and engaged in group discussions on such varied topics as storytelling, gun safety, bullying, finance, gardening, hiking and statistical trends regarding the influence of fathers on the lives of their children. The common thread between these topics was the quest to be a more successful, positive male role model to children.

Rico Gutierrez, program director for the Hub Communities Family Resource Center, was one of the people responsible for making the fatherhood conference a reality. He said he was raised by a single mother and had no father figure to teach him how to be a good father. After becoming a single father, Gutierrez said he began looking around for guidance or assistance and found that Siskiyou County was lacking in resources specifically for fathers.

He said he decided to start getting fathers together to put on events and help each other develop the necessary tools to be good parents and form meaningful relationships with their children.

Conference attendee Gabe Montgomery said he was apprehensive about the conference, but by the end of the morning session he was sold. "Right now I'm going through a struggle with my boys," said Montgomery when asked why he came to the event. "I was always taught that you always try to keep improving. That's what this is about."

Another attendee, Bret Ritter, said, "As a dad you want to do whatever you can for your kids and things like this can help you grow as a parent. Whatever tools I can get from this can maybe help me help my kids."

This year's event was the fourth fatherhood conference held in Siskiyou County. The organizers say they intend to continue to bring fathers together through future conferences and other events to help them develop the skills necessary to enrich the lives of their children.

For more information about the fatherhood conference or other programs for fathers, call the Hub Communities Family Resource Center at 459-3481.